Bride To Be Gift Box by UnboundBox

I recently had the chance to get to know some of the products that UnboundBox has to offer.

If you are looking for a unique gift idea for a Bride To Be, then here is an idea for you! I have to admit, my favorite item in the gift box is the Hanky Panky Peek-A-Boo Bralette and Bottoms set. 

This Bride To Be Box from UnboundBox is surely going to be something the bride remembers forever! This gift would be so great to give a bride at her bachelorette party!

From the moment the bride opens this gift box, she will instantly see what great quality each and every item is that's provided! Her new spouse will also have fun playing along and helping explore these items a bit better after the wedding, on the honeymoon, and beyond! 

ORDER THE GIFT BOX HERE

 

When this UnboundBox arrived at my doorstep, this adorably wrapped gift box was inside of a larger box, wrapped very safely. Everything arrived in amazing condition, and I was so excited to see what all was inside. You can choose either black lace or white lace for the bralette + bottoms, so I chose to feature the black lace items. See, you don't even have to gift wrap this present, it's already done for you! The smaller box contains the lace undergarments, and the larger box contains the rest of the gift items in the set. 

UnboundBox pays so much attention to details - everything looks amazing, from the second you begin to open the package! Most brides are going to love this present!

You could get this for the bride by yourself, or have a couple of friends gift this to her together. 

Hanky Panky Steamy Peek-A-Boo Bralette

This peek-a-boo bralette is made of Hanky Panky's signature comfortable stretch lace. The sensuous silky ribbon will make you feel like a present fit to unwrap. 

Believe me, the lace on this bralette is extremely high quality. This bralette is made from the finest materials, closures, ribbons, and finishes. 

Hanky Panky Steamy Side Tie Bottoms

The perfect cheeky bottoms to pair with the Peek-A-Boo Bralette in Black Lace. These comfortable, bikini-cut panties are made of Hanky Panky's signature stretch lace - which is super soft!

Desir Metallique Handcuffs

This beautiful set of mesh handcuffs look like a set of 3 bracelets, but could also be used for fun! 

Feather Tickler

This is also a cute item that would make just about anyone smile. The feathers are super-soft, so just use your imagination!

 

A little bit about one of the items in the gift box, the vibe.

Bijoiux Indiscrets Twenty One Diamond Vibrator
Twenty One offers the ultimate in female pleasure. With the perfect size and shape, it is designed to provide precise stimulation, through it's 7 patterns and 3 vibration intensities, Twenty One unveils a new dimension where pleasure is the real luxury. Includes satin pouch, user manual, and USB charger.

Blogging & Social Media Conferences To Check Out!

Have you ever attended a conference? If it is on the top of your priority list, I have gathered info on a few that look really, really good! I hope to expand on this list, so please comment below if I missed any events. Thank you SO much for checking out these fun conferences!!!

AltITUDE Summit - January

Altitude Summit began in Salt Lake City (Founded in 2009), and 2016 marks the last year that the conference will be held in SLC. I consider this the leading lady when it comes to social media or blogger conferences. The 2017 Event will be held in Palm Springs, which is already sold out! 

Blog Post Credit: Passports and Pancakes Photo Credit: Justin Hackworth Photography

FIND THEM: Website // Facebook // Instagram // Pinterest // Twitter

Create + Cultivate - January

January 2016, Create + Cultivate, will be held in Dallas! I am attending this amazing event, and cannot wait to learn from the top bloggers and creative people in the blogging business today! 

Create + Cultivate has been held in places like L.A. and Chicago, and they will be announcing the next location soon. The January 2016 #CreateCultivateDallas tickets sold out super quick this year, making me a happy girl for getting my ticket. 

When: January 30, 2016

FIND THEM: Website // Facebook // Instagram // Pinterest // Twitter

BlogHer & BlogHer Food - August & October

I have heard really great things about BlogHer Conferences. 

Find Them Here: BlogHer 2016 & BlogHerFood 2016

When: BlogHer - L.A. August 4-6 BlogHerFood - October 7-8, 2016

FIND THEM: Website // Facebook // Instagram // Pinterest // Twitter

Re/Code Media Conference - Various Months

Held in the absolutely gorgeous Ritz-Carlton in Laguna Niguel (among other gorgeous places), this conference is quite wonderful. I had the pleasure of attending (AND being a speaker on The New Influencers Panel) in February of 2015, and it made me aware of the importance of the tech-industry side of the online world. Read my blog post here, to see images of my time there. A very special thanks to HelloSociety and Science Media for sponsoring my trip there. It was an unforgettable experience! Peter Kafka was an incredibly good host, and a great interviewer! 

FIND THEM: Website // Facebook // Instagram // Pinterest // Twitter

Thrive Conference - February

Thrive is located at The Embassy Suites in The Woodlands/Hughes Landing in Springs, TX. 

When: February 26-27, 2016

FIND THEM: Facebook // Website // Tickets

Build Your Blog Conference - February

BYBC Is scheduled to happen February 19-20, 2016. They provide lots of great webinars, one of which I have seen, and was incredibly inspired by! They consider themselves the "Most Educational Blogger Conference". 

FIND THEM: Facebook // Website 

Go Blog Social - March

This conference will be held on March 5, 2016 in Kansas City, MO. IT looks like an absolutely amazing and inspiring event, so get your tickets here. KC is the first stop on their 2016 Tour, which sounds like so much fun!!!

FIND THEM: Website // Facebook Event // Instagram

Social Media Marketing World - April

This conferences, held by Social Media Examiner is going to be held in San Diego on April 17-19, 2016. With registration, you will get track sessions, workshops, and keynotes. You also get online recordings of the event, as well as lots of opportunities to network. They are even providing an opening ceremony in an airplane hanger! Sounds like fun! 

Register Here. 

FIND THEM: Website

Creative At Heart Conference - Various Months

This event will be held at three different locations in 2016! The video on their website is beyond inspiring! They will help you get your business in order whether you have been in business for years, or are just starting out. Learn more. 

Annapolis, MD (March 20-22), Denver, CO (July 24-25), and Memphis, TN (November 13-14)

FIND THEM: Website // Facebook // Instagram // Twitter

Learn How To Utilize Facebook Business Pages

I know Facebook can be challenging as a way to try and promote your business. But, I gained over 10,000 Likes on Facebook in less than a year by testing out a few ideas, and they worked!

WHY DO I NEED A FACEBOOK BUSINESS PAGE?

Every business, and every blogger needs to have a Facebook Business Page. It's another free way to get your name listed on Google's searches. It's also pretty easy to start. I am sure some of you who already have one have seen their impressions and views dwindle in the past couple of years, so many businesses and bloggers have pretty much given up on using Facebook as a viable means to gain readers, or even share content to people who already follow you. But, I have had a lot of success on Facebook. 

MY MOST POPUAR FACEBOOK POST / HOW TO CREATE A GOOD FACEBOOK POST

Here is one of my most popular (meaning most-liked) Facebook posts. I collaged the two images together in Photoshop, and people have been going crazy over this post I created. Here is a screenshot to show you the behind the scenes info about this post. The Weekends Are For Waffles Tee can be found on ModCloth.com. So, I believe this was a great investment in my FB posts!

Notes:

Likes: 9,112 

Photo Clicks: 855

Link Clicks: 21 (Still not extremely high)

Page Likes: 317 (Definitely happy with this!)

Age: 13-21 years old / Male and Female (98.3% women interacted)

Interests: pop culture and music

Location: 16 Countries (Click Image To View Them Larger) 

Budget: $16.00

TIPS FOR SUCCESSFUL FACEBOOK POSTS

1.) Image Size Is Important! Remember, Facebook posts look best when they are dimensions similar to 1200 pixels X 627 pixels. Squares and vertical images just don't display well in peoples' feeds. 

2.) Facebook will not promote your posts if they are more than 20% text. Meaning, get creative, and get more visual. You can just add the text in the Facebook post, so don't worry too much about adding in a lot of text to your Facebook posts. 

3.) A great way to gain content for your Facebook post is to share other people's posts to your Page. This is a great way to curate some content for your page, and the original poster is always fully credited.

HOW TO START A FACEBOOK BUSINESS PAGE.

1.) LET'S GET STARTED

On your main feed at facebook.com, on the left side of your page, find Create Page. 

2.) CREATE A PAGE

How To Set Up A Facebook Business Page

Here, I would suggest that if you are a lifestyle blogger, and are not offering goods and services, but only digital information, to choose Cause Or Community. Some of the other topics are best if you are actually wanting to sell your goods and services either locally or via websites like Etsy. 

3.) FILL OUT YOUR INFORMATION

Here, you simply customize your page by adding a short and to-the-pointDescription, Profile Picture, Adding To Favorites, and choosing your Preferred Page Audience. One note about choosing your Preferred Page Audience, is that you definitely want to start out with a broad audience. Why try to eliminate any possible interaction with a possible reader or follower? 

4.) PROFILE PICTURE

This is such an important part of your page! Make sure you create or find a cute logo or graphic for your page. I even recommend using a colorful letter, like the first letter or letters of your blog or business name as a beginning logo. 

 

5.) ADD TO FAVORITES

Pretty self explanatory, but by adding your new page to your favorites, it will show up on the left side of your home page, and is easier to access. 

6.) PREFERRED PAGE AUDIENCE

Here is one way I have gotten so many likes! Since I am only trying to drive traffic to my Facebook page and my blog, and since I do not rely on local traffic of any sort, I make sure to include lots of different countries and interests in my Audience. I would always recommend making sure you include Mexico in your audience, because over 60% of my likes, on my Facebook Business Page, comes from people in that location. This is of course, only a suggestion. 

Another really wonderful bit of info that Facebook now shares with us, is how many people like each Interest. See below, when I choose Travel as a targeted interest, over 920 million people like it! So, just think of more broad topics, as well as more pop-culture interests like musicians, TV shows, etc. 

7.) CREATE A BANNER

If you create nothing else, just feel free to upload a solid colored rectangle for now. Facebook will resize this for you, and it makes a big impact! Make this image 851 pixels X 315 pixels. The image , below is one I created in Photoshop by pulling a gradient of purple down the document. Super easy! 

8.) OTHER IDEAS

A few more key things to consider:

Monthly Budget - This one is totally up to you! The more you spend, the more Likes you are going to gain, if you follow the rules above. But, make sure to space out your budget. I generally spend $5.00 per ad/image/post, and have it run for 2-3 days at a time. Try spacing out your budget across different ads to see what is appealing most to your audience. 

Sharing Other People's Posts - Like I said above, it's fun to share and curate posts from other people on Facebook if it aligns with your blog!

Stick To A Color Scheme When Possible - I have noticed that my eye is always attracted to bright and inspiring images, with pops of bright colors in them. To begin, any post you see that contains your color scheme, share it on your page. 

Like Pages And Post Comments As Your Business, Not Your Personal Account - Did you know that you can like posts as your personal profile OR your business profile? At the top of the page, there is a drop down arrow. Hover over, and it says: Use Facebook As...and just choose your business page. 

Respond To Messages Quickly - Facebook shows your viewers how quickly you reply to messages, so have a friend or family member send you a few messages, and et back to them right away. Then, you will show your readers that you are catering to them in a timely manner. 

You Can Do It! - Believe me, I was surprised that I gained over 10,000 Likes on my Facebook page in less than a year by using the principals I explained above.

Two Amazing Fruity Frozen Yogurt Recipes {Peach Pineapple + Raspberry Peach}

Yum! That;s basically the first word that comes to mind when I look back at these photos. I have been wanting to make some frozen yogurt for some time now, and I had the perfect ingredient for it! Peaches that Bobby's mom gave us when we visited recently. They were just perfectly sweet and juicy. 

I just love how natural the ingredients in this recipe are. This is a way better option than something you can buy in-store, and takes hardly any time at all! The peaches can be cut up and pureed ahead of time, making this even easier. The end result tastes amazing, and will surely please that sweet tooth for people of all ages!

It all starts with peaches...

Cut the peaches in half, then whatever half still has the pit, slide that in half again. The pit will come right out! Make sure your peaches are a teeny tiny bit soft and ready to use, rather than super firm. You can also put the peaches into a grocery bag for a few hours to  soften them up. 

Here are the Basic Ingredients (sans the pineapple - that is shown in the ingredients photo, within the peach puree). Each recipe can be found below its respective title, further down in this post. 

INGREDIENTS:

- 3-4 Peaches, peeled and sliced, pits removed

- 2 C. vanilla yogurt (I used the sweetened kind)

- 2-3 Tbsp sweetener like agave

- 1 C. (or more) fresh raspberries (I froze my own before using them in this recipe)

- 1/2 Can Pineapple rings + their juice

INSTRUCTIONS:

- Puree all ingredients until very smooth, then pour into a freezer-safe container with a lid. Freeze for at least a few hours (but overnight is recommended). Scoop the frozen yogurt into a big bowl and enjoy!! This recipe is amazing for summer. The color of this frozen yogurt is absolutely stunning - that pink color is lovely! 

INGREDIENTS:

- 3-4 Peaches, peeled and sliced, pits removed

- 2 C. vanilla yogurt (I used the sweetened kind)

- 2-3 Tbsp sweetener like agave

- 1/2 Can Pineapple rings + their juice

INSTRUCTIONS:

- Puree all ingredients until very smooth, then pour into a freezer-safe container with a lid. Freeze for at least a few hours (but overnight is recommended). Scoop the frozen yogurt into a big bowl and enjoy!! This recipe is amazing for summer. This recipe is the same as the one above, minus the raspberries!

Olympics Inspired - Candy Flavored Vodkas!

I had a blast creating these 5 flavored vodkas, inspired by the 2016 Olympics! With 5 different types of candy, I created 5 festive flavors of infused vodka, and then created a cute label for the Vodka I used. 

Here is how I got the 5 flavors/colors. Note, I did use a teeny bit of food coloring in the black and green flavors, but the other colors turned out so vibrant. All you have to do is to divide 1-2 bottles of unflavored vodka into 5 jars with lids. In order to really infuse the alcohol, keep these in the fridge overnight, if you can. The longer you wait, the better! I also recommend using as much candy in the jar as you can.

BLUE: Blue Jolly Ranchers - BLACK: Black Licorice + Black Food Dye - RED: Cherry Jolly Ranchers - YELLOW: Lemon Heads - GREEN: Green Apple Jolly Ranchers + Lime Green Food Coloring

You could of course customize these fun flavors and colors for college or pro sports teams, holidays, and more! Let me know if you wind up making these, I'd love to see what you create. 

Also, I grabbed this amazingly tasty Sugar Saucer Cookie from Longbranch Cafe, my favorite restaurant in Carbondale! 

And, if you were wondering how I created the label on the bottle, I found 8.5" x 11" sticker paper at a local print shop, and printed a label I created in InDesign. I found the fonts on dafont.com - love that site! Go Team!!!

Goodbye Dry Skin ~ Hello Soft Skin {with Curel®}

It's officially summer! Which means it's more important than ever to get your skin looking and feeling great. Embrace those tank tops, shorts, and adorable sandals by saying GOODBYE to dry skin, with Curél moisturizing lotion. Curél is debuting their new Hydra Therapy product which helps combat dry skin and helps you look your best during warmer weather and beyond! Be sure to check out Curél® on Facebook to get updates and to learn more. 

  • Curel® HYDRA THERAPY WET SKIN MOISTURIZER is activated by water on freshly-showered skin and penetrates deeply into the surface to heal dryness

  • After showering, your skin cells expand, which provides an easy pathway for Curel® HYDRA THERAPY WET SKIN MOISTURIZER to penetrate into just showered skin, healing the moisture barrier where it counts and helping replenish skin’s ceramide levels

  • Curel® HYDRA THERAPY WET SKIN MOISTURIZER is not greasy or sticky and has powerful healing ingredients that restore the moisture barrier

  • Apply daily & experience the end of dry skin

Above, you will see some of the items that will help you keep your feet looking summer ready! 

WHAT YOU NEED:

- Curel® Hydratherapy Wet Skin Moisturizer

- Pumice Stone (in purple) - the one that is lighter weight and not very dense is the best one

- Foot scrub gel

- Foot brush

- Cute DIY Flip Flops (I glued jeweled flower charms to these!! I just love how they turned out!

 

HOW TO:

- In the shower, use the foot scrub solution, pumice stone and foot brush to slough away any rough patches on your feet, ankles, and legs. This reminds me of the treatment I get at a salon during a pedicure!

- After the shower, while skin is still damp, use Curel® Hydratherapy  Wet Skin Moisturizer

- Toss on an adorable dress, and your newly decorated flip flops, and head out on your next summer adventure! 

I'm sharing #curelskincare, #breaktherules, and #enddryskin in my life as part of a Curel® sponsored series for Socialstars™. Thank you for supporting the brands that help keep my blog a beautiful space to showcase my work! 

Another amazing way to pamper yourself this summer is to treat yourself to a lightly scented, floral candle. This one, by Voluspa is beyond amazing! The scent is great, and even without lighting the candle, your room is filled with a relaxing, fresh scent that makes you feel like a million bucks! I always keep a candle like this in the bathroom.

Also, if you are heading out, or just want to keep things organized, I wanted to recommend this adorable zipper pouch, in light pink, that says, "Ooh la la..."! Pack up some roll-on SPF, a bright lip color, and a few other essentials that you definitely want to keep by your side. 

I wanted to extend a special thanks to SocialStars for sending these extra goodies with the Curel® items. 

I also wanted to give you a glance at the back of the bottle, because I always do my research when shopping for any bath or beauty product. 

Why Ceramides?
Ceramides, naturally present in healthy skin, are vital building blocks to maintaining skin’s moisture barrier. When ceramides are lost, skin becomes dry and damaged. Curél® HYDRA THERAPY WET SKIN MOISTURIZER, with Advanced Ceramide Complex, penetrates to the source of dryness, helping to replenish skin's ceramide levels and repair the moisture barrier.

  • Water activated moisture works deep into skin’s surface
  • Helps repair moisture barrier
  • Contains our proprietary Advanced Ceramide Complex
  • Immediately Absorbs
  • Completely Greaseless
  • Skin feels 3x more hydrated instantly
  • Fragrance Free
  • Dermatologist Recommended

I also wanted to extend a big thanks to FWS Countertops, who provided me with this gorgeous marble surface! They are about 3 blocks from my house, and have been a staple in our local community for many, many years!! 

Thank you SO very much for taking the time to check out this fun, new product from Curél®, and I hope that I have provided some wonderful Summer Skin Tips! What are your favorite ways to keep your skin smooth through the summer months and beyond? 

Share Your Passions + A Watermelon Keg Drink Recipe With Rémy Martin Cognac

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. The following content is intended for readers who are 21 or older.

#passiondefinedremyrefined #CollectiveBias #StLouisSweepstakes

I listen to music every single day. I much prefer music to television, and because I work from home I include music in my daily life. I am always looking for new music to love, or I will play something from one of my many favorite musicians. I love listening as I am crafting, which is one of my many talents. Recently, I have been creating beautiful dreamcatchers as party items for entertaining. Listening to music and combining my talents of crafting make for a relaxing and productive day. I created a fun and inspiring Girly Boho Summer Festival Themed Party décor item, which is a dreamcatcher. I created this while listening to my favorite tunes. You can see later in this post how to create these for yourself.

In honor of music festival season, and tons of great concerts happening in the St. Louis area, I also created a delightfully refreshing Watermelon Cognac Summer Sip Recipe - and then served it out of a watermelon keg! Everything turned out so well, so I hope you get a chance to try this drink recipe with friends while listening to good music.

Also going on this summer, you can enter to win a mentor for a YEAR (!!!), or meet Jhené Aiko! Read along to find out more. And, check out updates on Twitter.
Learn more about this amazing opportunity on Twitter

Or visit their website!

First, I wanted to start off by telling you a bit more about the mentorship that Rémy Martin Cognac is offering up.

To enter the sweepstakes, the Entrant must log on to his/her Twitter account and (i) follow @RemyRefined (if he/she does not already), and (ii) Tweet an image of Entrant showing their life passion and including the hashtags #RemyRefined and either #ChicagoSweepstakes, #DetroitSweepstakes, or #StLouisSweepstakes, depending on Entrant’s state of residence.

○      Grand Prize (1): The grand prize winner will receive a mentor for one (1) year to help winner live out his/her passion and a check for $5,000 (“Grand Prize”).

○      First Prize (15 [five (5) per location]): Each first prize winner will receive two (2) tickets to a Jhené Aiko concert on either August 12, 2016 for Michigan winners, August 16, 2016 for Illinois winners, or August 17, 2016 for Missouri winners, a meet and greet with Jhené Aiko, and a Rémy Martin gift bag (“First Prize”).

○      Second Prize (30 [ten (10) per location]): Each second prize winner will receive two (2) tickets to a Jhené Aiko concert on either August 12, 2016 for Michigan winners, August 16, 2016 for Illinois winners, or August 17, 2016 for Missouri winners (“Second Prize’).

No Purch. Nec. Ends 8/31/16. 21+, IL, MI, MO only, Rules: RemyRefined.com

DREAMCATCHER INSTRUCTIONS:

MATERIALS:

Lace Fabric

Wooden Embroidery Hoop (I used a smaller one)

Ribbon, Beads, Feathers, and Embroidery Floss

Hot Glue & Hot Glue Gun

INSTRUCTIONS:

1.) Heat up your glue gun and let’s get started!

Cut a long strip of lace, which will be wrapped around the outer circle part of the embroidery hoop.

Glue one short side of the strip to the inside of the circle, then wrap the lace around the entire circle, glueing whenever you see fit.

2.) Now, cut a circle of lace a little bit bigger than the interior circle, and stretch the lace around the inner circle, glueing on one side, then glue straight across, then evenly stretch out the rest of the lace on the circle. (See Figure 2)

3.) Now, we will add the pretty decorations. Cut lengths of ribbon, and glue them inside the outer circle. Then, double over your embroidery floss, and tie it to the circle. Glue everything in place.

4.) I used a big needle on the embroidery floss to get the beads onto the string. I also glued marabou feathers to the ends of the string, then wrapped and glued more ribbon around it.

5.) I also tied embroidery floss around the glasses (tapered glasses would have been way easier), then added elephant charms and more beads. I love how everything turned out!

Read on to see how I made the watermelon keg and to get the drink recipe!!!

DRINK RECIPE / WATERMELON KEG INSTRUCTIONS:

MATERIALS:

2 Watermelons

Rémy Martin 1738 or Rémy Martin VSOP

Blender or food processor for watermelon

Large spoon to scoop out watermelon

knife to cut watermelon

Mint (optional)

Large Mason Jars (to mix drink)

Watermelon Keg Tapper

For The Keg Stand:

Cake Stand

Bowl To Hold Watermelo

 

INSTRUCTIONS:

1.) Cut a couple of inches off the top of your watermelon. I used painters tape to try and get a straighter cut.

2.) Scoop out insides of watermelon and blend the insides until it’s juice. Transfer to several mason jars (or other large container with a lid).

3.) For every quart of watermelon juice, add 2-3 shots of Rémy Martin.

4.) You can also add some mint and lime, if that’s your style! And to add even more summer flavor, this would be so tasty!

5.) MAKE THE KEG - Open your watermelon keg tapping kit, and follow instructions to create the keg.

6.) Set your new watermelon creation into the bowl, and set it all onto the cake stand.

7.) Fill the watermelon with your drink recipe, turn on some good tunes, and sample your new drink! Enjoy!

PRODUCT INFORMATION

Rémy Martin 1738

Rémy Martin 1738® Accord Royal is the signature blend from the luxury House of Rémy Martin. Made from the most sought after grapes of Fine Champagne Cognac, 1738® is a tribute to almost 300 years of passionate commitment to time, tradition and respect of the land.

1738 Accord Royal is aged up to 20 years in French toasted oak casks to reveal a rich range of aromas and exceptionally round texture.

Rémy Martin VSOP

The world’s first and favorite Fine Champagne cognac

#1 V.S.O.P in the US

The art of blending hundreds of eaux-de-vie to renew the same taste every year and reveal the same signature style since it’s creation in 1927

Dominant notes of vanilla thanks to aging in large grain oak barrels. Fruity notes of ripe apricots, baked apple and elegant floral notes.

DIY Summer Fun - Washi Tape Everything!

Washi Tape is here to stay, and I absolutely love it! This tape sticks to SO many surfaces, and creates an instant pop of color and a bit of whimsy to anything you adhere it to. 

Below, you will find a few items that I covered, to show you how easy it is to update just about anything on your desk and around your home!

I created these photos for a fun campaign that I helped share for Wendy's Blackberry Lemonade. I loved creating this DIY project for such a well-known brand! 

I covered an assortment of items, including: A clip board, wooden utensils, blank journals, and paper gift bags! Seriously, this project was SO fun!!!

{PB + Banana Toast} Summer Snacking with Sahale Snacks

I found a new, favorite snack mix! Actually, I found quite a few new favorites in this amazing package that I received from Sahale Snacks! I wanted to share a fun "recipe" of sorts that will hopefully inspire you to take the time to get some healthy foods together, and have a breakfast picnic!! 

This fun "recipe" basically consists of only four ingredients! Toast, Creamy Peanut Butter, Bananas, and Sahale Snacks Honey Almond Glazed Mix, which also features sea salt and cranberries for a bit of tart and sweet.

I just spread the PB onto the toast, then sliced up my bananas to about 1/4" thick. I placed 6 banana slices on the toast, then added the tasty almonds. They are coated in the most delicious honey crunchy awesome-ness, so I wound up eating a few as I was creating these photos - how could I resist?! 

If you are just looking for something to grab on the way out of the door, or if you're looking for snacks for your next road trip, then these Grab & Go Snacks  from Sahale Snacks are perfect!! 

I also fell in love with this S'Well bottle from their Satin Collection - in Moncao Blue. SO many colors to choose from!!! 

I'm sharing #SahaleSnackers in my life as part of a Sahale Snacks® sponsored series for Socialstars™. Thank you for supporting the brands that help keep my blog a beautiful space to showcase my work! 

Smoothie Time With Annie's Homegrown Organics

I have been on a major smoothie kick lately, and after making one almost every day, I have found my perfect blend of ingredients to make a smoothie that I haven't gotten tired of yet! I will alter the recipe just a little bit, depending upon what fruit I have in my fridge or freezer, but I basically use the same formula each time. 

I have always been drawn to Annie's Homegrown Organic products, so when I saw this yogurt at our local Schnuck's, I grabbed a couple of containers, lots of berries, and also re-upped on unsweetened almond milk. 

I have also learned that to make a smoothie the best (most drinkable) consistency possible, you can't use all frozen fruits. Otherwise, it freezes all of the other ingredients, making something more like soft sorbet (which is great for smoothie bowls or making nice-cream). Also, adding the almond milk definitely helps to thin out your smoothie, but the taste can be overwhelming, so just test your smoothie before pouring it in the jar. Lastly, with the yogurt, I add a good amount, because it tastes SO good! So, the amount of each ingredient just depends on your taste preferences. 

MAKES 2 LARGE SMOOTHIES

- Annies Homegrown Organic Very Vanilla Yogurt

- Unsweetened Almond Milk

- Frozen Raspberries (I freeze fresh ones in jars)

- Frozen Blackberries (I also froze some fresh ones in jars)

- Fresh Strawberries (tops sliced off, cut into smaller pieces)

- Fresh Blueberries 

- Fresh Banana

- Ice

- Sugar is your fruit isn't very sweet or too tart

 

1.) In a blender or food processor, add sliced strawberries, fresh blueberries, frozen raspberries, frozen blackberries, a dash of almond milk, banana, 1/3 container of yogurt, and a handful of ice.

2.) Hold the blender down, and begin to blend and puree your ingredients! Keep blending for a bit, because you want everything the same consistency. Note - unless you have a super-awesome blender, the ice will sound rough at first when you blend...

3.) Pour into a big jar, and enjoy! This smoothie keeps me full well past lunch time, it's amazing!

Find more about the Annie's Hiomegrown Organic yogurt, here!

A Summer Boho Makeup Idea For Music Festivals #playbeautifully with e.l.f.

Summer festivals are in full swing, and I am so incredibly inspired by the makeup trends and clothing styles. I am beyond happy that the boho look has lasted this long, and I hope it's here to stay for a long time. I wanted to share a few makeup items that I would definitely recommend taking to your next music festival, or wearing to your next concert! 

My favorite items were these three lip colors, and they're all around $3.00 - the perfect price for trying out a new color to see if it's something you are going to wear more than once. 

 

The lip lacquer, in purple had TONS of color to it, and I know that purple lips have been so popular this summer. The middle one, the hypershine gloss, in vixen, was also very bright, in a good way, and very flattering with just about any makeup look. The SPF 15 lip sunscreen, although the color is nude, I loved the hint of color, and light shimmer (not glittery, luckily), and I also really like the fact that this has SPF. It's incredibly smooth and creamy, making me think that this would be perfect for any time you head out this summer. 

I am constantly inspired by all of the amazing, boho fashion and makeup ideas I find on Pinterest on a daily basis! I created a Pinterest Board, called Music Festival & Concert Fashion, where I keep track of all of my finds! 

Below, you can see how lovely the Lip Balm with SPF 15 looks! I can see this color (nude) looking great on so many skin tones. And, this won't make it look like you're wearing a ton of makeup. Just enhance your natural beauty, and also protect your lips - they're so sensitive that they deserve a bit of protection! 

The Perfect Watch For Back To School & Beyond

I found my all-time favorite accessory - the Cora watch in Purpleheart and Mother of Pearl, by JORD! I know I have blogged about these beautiful watches before (here and here), but I recently received a new, smaller style and love it SO very much!

The reddish, darker color of the Purpleheart wood is absolutely stunning, and is going to be great for back to school, fall, the end of summer, and beyond. I also love the unexpected sparkle of the jewels in the watch face. The other little nod to extreme attention to detail is the fact that the back of the watch face is made of glass, so you can see the inner workings of the watch! I cannot believe how nice these watches are, they're so well-made.

"Savoring something, however small, is why your style will always be revered, and rarely replicated. You'll love how the Purpleheart wood pairs with opaline Mother of Pearl to showcase the luxe nature of natural materials. Crafted to be adored, our Cora was created for you."

And, just for fun, enter to win $75 towards your very own Wood Watch! That is a GOOD DEAL!!! 

This Cora Watch matches the boho styles so well! Whether you're pairing a cute button up 3/4 sleeve shirt with dark cropped skinnies, or wearing a cute dress, the watch will never look unflattering because its design is so streamlined. This watch is very comfortable, and really makes me smile when I wear it! 

sapphire crystal glass

deployment buckle with push button

swarovski crystal markers

screw-down crown

case width: 37mm

case thickness: 12mm

lug ends: 38mm

band thickness: 18mm - 22mm

band length: 211mm (they send extra links)

These watches make amazing gifts, too! My sister is already eyeing this one :) They are such good quality watches, that whoever is lucky enough to receive one will have it for a very long time. And, like I mentioned before, JORD wood watches come with extra links, just in case. There are SO many colors of these watches, so go ahead and check out the whole collection, here. 

I had so much fun styling this watch for JORD. Check out all that JORD has to offer here!

The Citizenry - Trend Report

Shop Home Goods Here

 I really love rooms that have white walls, wood floors, leather and wood furniture, lots of plants, and the pops of color in the room come from soft pillows, rugs, and blankets in Aztec prints and bright colors. My home isn't there just yet, but I am always SO drawn to those images!

While I did not shoot these photos, I wanted to share some of the newest home goods that I am helping to promote on Pinterest - The Citizenry. 

In addition to the home goods that they offer, their blog provides a huge amount of inspiring content, like cocktail recipes, home decor ideas, inspirations, and travel-related posts. 

OUR PHILOSOPHY (FROM THE CITIZENRY.COM)

"We believe our homes should be reflections of the journeys we take. Our personal spaces deserve designs with a soul, a story, and a purpose. It's why we travel the world to develop our exclusive collections of home goods. Country by country, we partner with master artisans, blending our modern style with their time-tested techniques. 

By personally traveling to each country and using only local materials, we establish sustainable relationships with our artisans. From there, we sell directly to you online–there is no middleman. This is how we’re able to offer handmade goods, crafted with the highest quality materials, at more reasonable prices than traditional luxury boutiques."

WHY THE NAME “THE CITIZENRY”?

"We set out to build a company that celebrates the people behind our products. Our name is a reflection of the collective of individuals – artisans, designers, and dreamers – who rally together across cultures and continents to craft our collections. The Citizenry is our way of sharing these stories and products with you."

DIY Summer Fun - Pineapple Gift Boxes

There's no doubt that it's summer, why not embrace it and make something cute inspired by tropical breezes (wishful thinking), and pineapples! Why not make someone smile by creating a gift box that is a present in itself. I made this project a little while back in order to help Wendy's to help promote their Blackberry Lemonade. It was just the right amount of tart and sweet, wrapped up into one pretty drink! What will you be making and gifting this summer?

This post was totally inspired by the amazingly awesome blog, Damask Love! 

- Oval-shaped Paper Mache Boxes 

- Yellow Paint, White Paint

- Paint Brush (to paint over entire box)

- Wooden Skewer Sticks (to paint white marks on boxes)

- Paint Brush

- Mint Green Sparkle Foam Sheet 

- Glue

- Gift Items or Candy to fill boxes

1.) Cover your work surface, and paint your boxes yellow. I used 2 coats, but they dried pretty quickly.

2.) Make sure your yellow paint is 100% dry, then with a skewer stick, draw/paint the lines onto the boxes. I basically put the white paint onto a paper plate, then laid the skewer sticks down, covered the end in paint, then drew the lines across the boxes. This helps you create super straight lines, too!

3.) Now, cut out your green top parts. Feel free to print the photo, below, to get the right shapes. I just sort of free-handed one, and traced it on the non-glitter side of the foam. These were so easy to cut out! 

4.) Now, simply glue the little green top pieces onto the boxes, and you're done!! Fill them with paper shreds, and whatever your heart delights! 

A Cute Desk Decor DIY & Celebrate Back To College With Big Lots

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertisers. All opinions are mine alone. #BigLotsReady #CollectiveBias

I am here today with a cute DIY idea, and tips on how to design a space for a woman who is shopping for back-to college items, and wants to learn how to maker her space her own. My sister, Ellen is such a talented person. She is going to be a Junior at the University of Louisville, KY in the nursing program this Fall semester, and I couldn't be more proud of her! She will be receiving her BSN in no time at all! She is my complete inspiration for this post! She is so talented, and she is a gifted artist and designer. 

Ellen lived in a dorm her first year, and it was super cute. She did the best she could with the furniture she was given, but last year, her design style really had a chance to blossom. She moved into a beautiful house with some of her sorority sisters, and her bedroom was beyond adorable. Now, she is moving into a house with a bit more space, and I can't wait to see how she designs the place.

Read on to see more about the space I designed for a woman who is in college and needs a beautiful space to work! The directions for a DIY Background Inspiration Board are below.

Get tons more inspirations, and shop all of the Back-To-College items here. And, click around on the image below, it's shoppable!

Meet my sister, Ellen!

I shopped at my local Big Lots for many of these items, and I could not believe hoe friendly and helpful everyone was! The main cashier knew exactly right where everything was, and I was happy to find so many of the items available in-store. I also found lots of items that coordinated with my coral and mint theme, so I grabbed a few extra items while there. Another option is to shop on biglots.com, if you want an even broader selection of colors or want to see the entire line of back to college gear. 

No matter what your style, Big Lots has some super cute home decor items that will inspire a cute color combo, or even an overall theme to your new space, from college dorms, new apartments, or any work space. In addition to the items I featured here, Big Lots also has: mattresses, furniture, small appliances, bedding, sheets, pillows & throws. These items will fit into lots of popular decor trends, for both guys and girls. 

And, there were way more electronics than I could have imagined! They're all stocked up on items like extra battery packs for charging your phone and small devices (see photo, right), as well as cute headphones in literally every color imaginable. 

I also found a ton of other apartment/dorm/new place ready items like Ninja blender, lots of vacuums, toasters, pots and pan sets, plates, dishes, cups, silverware sets, and a good selection of curling irons, and other bathroom items. I always like checking out the beauty aisle, you never know what sorts of hair products, lotions, and even gift items for your new roomies! 

Rather than staring at a blank wall while you type away at your term papers, decorate the wall behind your computer with something cute and meaningful! All you need is some black and white photos. You can use your own photos and print them in black and white), or you can grab some from Tumblr, like I did! I used a bit of colorful twine and clear tape, to adhere the decor to the wall.

TO DIY YOUR SPACE:

1.) Cut a length of twine and drape it in a wide U-shape across the wall, behind your computer. 

2.) Tape up the twine on both ends. Now, tape each photo to your wall with clear tape, then tape the twine down onto it, making it appear as if the photos are strung from the twine. 

3.) Add 3-D paper flowers (which I found at a craft store) - you can also make these from scrapbooking supplies that you find at Big Lots! That's it! A super simple DIY decor idea for your work space. 

Also, creating varied heights on your work surface makes a more visually-pleasing look. You can use a candle holder, or a stack of books to create height, and then add a picture frame, vase full of flowers, or jars full of colorful candy to add inspiration. I also really love the idea of using a small candle holder or glass to hold makeup and makeup brushes. Keep the daily essentials at close reach! A mirror would also be a great addition to this design.

And, a scented candle will definitely help keep your space smelling fresh, and could even help you concentrate! Choose a more relaxing scent for studying at night, and a more lively, fresh scented one like this Orange Lemon one, below. 

How will you decorate your new space this Fall? Thanks so much for stopping by!!

Easy No-Sew Summer Wardrobe Solutions with Scotch™ Essentials At Target

Looking for a fun way to update your summer wardrobe? Here are a couple ideas to get you started! This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #WardrobeSolutions #CollectiveBias

I just love altering and upcycling clothing items! Especially to update my summer wardrobe. We all may have that pair of pants that is way too long, or fits well in one place, but not another. I also know many people enjoy super quick and simple DIY projects that take less than ten minutes, too. If you are someone who doesn't want to be bothered by sewing in order to refashion your wardrobe, here is an amazing, new solution that I am so glad I found! Seriously, NO SEWING, it's great. And, I would definitely recommend packing these products for your next vacation or night out, just in case you have a wardrobe malfunction and need to fix something on the spot. 

Here are two Summer DIY wardrobe solutions, making updating your summer wardrobe so much easier!

Scotch™ Essentials Adjustable Hem Tape (Used on shirt)

I loved this hem tape. I have only used the iron-on kind in the past, and it is a pain to use. But, these adjustable hem tape strips are just perfect for a projects like adding fringe to a top, because you may want to remove the fringe once you wear the shirt, or even remove the fringe before washing. Who knows, you may love the fringe one day, and want to remove it the next. 

More traditionally, this adjustable hem tape can also be used to shorten a hem length on a pair of pants depending on your shoe height (heels vs. flats), or if you have a child that is growing an inch a day, well here is a way to really extend the life of those pants!

Scotch™ Essentials Permanent Hem Bonding Strips (used on shorts)

My overall impression of these permanent bonding strips is really great. I wish so badly that I had known about these, because they are SO incredibly strong and would bond just about any fabric to another fabric. Caution - they are insanely sticky, so be careful what is on your work space, so nothing sticks to it that shouldn't. I was extremely happy with how well this material bonded denim to itself, like in this rolled cuff shorts DIY. You could even create a little pocket, or applique fabric onto a shirt with these bonding strips. 

I really liked the ribbon detail on the back of the jean shorts, which allowed me to cover up the old label, and customize the shorts to have something much cuter.

More traditionally, this material would be used on shortening curtains, so you don;t have to pull the sewing machine out, or make sure that you have the correct needles and materials if you do want to sew. Seriously, these strips are SO sticky, I can see this bond lasting for a very long time. Also, it is recommended that you use these permanent bonding strips with fabrics like denim, canvas, cotton, etc - as long as the fabric is not extremely lightweight (just because you could possibly see where the bonding strips are hiding). I just love these strips! I am so impressed.

Scotch™ Essentials Wardrobe Tape Strips

Last but not least, these wardrobe tape strips are skin-safe, so if you have a dress or top that has a neckline that always shows a bit too much, you can simply adhere a bit of this tape to the inside of a neckline (or problem area), and your garments will stay exactly where they need to be! 

 

I headed to Target in order to find some of the items I needed for this project. I found all of the Scotch™ Essentials in the sewing section by the irons and hampers. I love that aisle :) 

You only need a few materials for this fun summer no-sew DIY! 

- Jeans to cut into shorts

- Sewing pins (or you can mark with a marker)

- Scissors that will cut through jeans

- Ruler

- Scotch™ Essentials Permanent Hem Bonding Strips (Used On Shorts)

- Scotch™ Essentials Adjustable Hem Tape (Used For Fringe On Shirt)

- Scotch™ Essentials Wardrobe Tape (Just In Case Of Wardrobe Malfunctions)

Get tons of inspirations, and shop all of the Back-To-College items here

LOOKING FOR MORE?

SAVE $1.00 on any Scotch™ Essentials product here (Expires 9/2/16)
Visit The Scotch™ Essentials Social Hub here

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FOR THE SHORTS

1.) Lay jeans onto table, and measure 16-17" down from the waist. This will tell you where to mark the fabric to cut. I actually folded up the pant leg to get a straighter line to cut across.

Keep reading to learn how to upcycle some of your clothing and make sure you look super cute this summer! 

2.) Cut the first leg off where you marked your measurements, and then fold the jeans in half, and cut the other leg. I actually like how they look already! 

3.) Remove permanent bonding strips from package. and peel 1 paper sticker off of the backing. Careful - it's SUPER sticky! Press the sticky side onto the shorts (1 in front, and 1 in back), just near the hem line you cut. 

Remove the paper backing off of the front of the jeans, and leave the paper on the one in back.

4.)  Fold, or roll the hemline up about 2". Press to secure bonding strip. Now, remove the paper off the back of the jeans cuff, and again, press firmly to adhere. 

ANOTHER QUICK DIY PROJECT: ADD FRINGE TO ANY SHIRT

And, one more way you can customize your clothes for a no-sew DIY project is to use the - Scotch™ Essentials Adjustable Hem Tape to add a bit of flair to any top or garment!

1.) Cut Scotch™ Essentials Adjustable Hem Tape strips in half lengthwise. Peel the sticker strips off of the backing, and apply the bonding strips to the entire bottom hem of the INSIDE of the shirt. The image, below, shows the strips cut in half lengthwise. 

2.) Now, peel off the paper backing left on the strips, and begin to press the top of the fringe to the inside of the shirt. 

3.) Make sure everything is secured and dance the night away in your new fringe top!!!

Happy National Ice Cream Day! Recipe Roundup + Food Photography Inspirations

While I didn't get a chance to create any ice cream recipes for you, I wanted to share some of the most mouth-watering ice cream I have ever seen! I am so inspired by the food styling, backgrounds, lighting, and overall layout of these recipe hero images. Which one will you be trying to make today? Happy #NationalIceCreamDay!!!

Roasted Blueberry Balsamic Goats Cheese Ice Cream - via The Kitchen McCabe

Cereal Milk Soft Serve Ice Cream Recipe - via Erin Made This

Roasted Strawberry Ice Cream - Via The Novice Housewife 

Matcha Mint Chip Ice Cream - via Bojon Gourmet

No-Churn Ice Cream (5 Ways) - via Half Baked Harvest

Tahini Ice Cream With Caramel Sauce - via Butterlust

Backyard Mint Ice Cream - via For The Love Of The South

Bacon & Sweet Corn Ice Cream Sandwiches - via My Name Is Yeh

Blueberry Cheesecake Ice Cream - via Take A Megabyte

Peanut Butter Happy ~ Waffle "Cake" Recipe + A Quick and Easy Lunch Idea

I love peanut butter. I could eat it on a spoon straight out of the jar for a snack just about any time. When I had the opportunity to create a fun recipe inspired by Jif Spreads, I jumped on the opportunity! Our household definitely prefers Jif to any other Peanut Butter on the shelf! Also, I was recently introduced to Jif Bars, which are also some of the best granola style bars I've ever eaten. Really, though, add Peanut Butter to just about anything, and I'm a happy woman! Just the thought makes me peanut butter happy! #peanutbutterhappy

Since I wanted to showcase the Peanut Butter as a spread, rather than inside the recipe, I opted to layer up homemade chocolate waffles, Jif Spread, and also a bit of cool whip, and created the most amazing Waffle "Cake" to date. I also realized that this fun recipe was not complete without chocolate syrup drizzled over the whole creation.

- 1 box chocolate cake mix

- water

- vegetable oil

- 3 eggs

- Cool Whip (2 containers)

- Jif Creamy Peanut Butter

- Chocolate Sauce

- Waffle Iron

- Non Stick Spray

TO MAKE THE WAFFLES:

I used a super simple recipe to make the homemade chocolate waffles. Simply mix 1 box of cake mix, 1 C. water, 1/3 C. vegetable oil, and 3 large eggs. Alternately, you can substitute about 1/3 of the cake mix with other waffle batter so they are more fluffy, because the cake mix waffles can be a bit dense. Heat the waffles for about 3 minutes each, and set them aside on a cooling rack if you have one - this way, the waffles won't get soggy while you're working on them. I used 5 waffles here.

After making the waffles, it's time to create your waffle "cake"! Place one waffle on the plate, then add a layer of Cool Whip all across the first waffle, to create a thick layer. I like scooping the Cool Whip into a Ziploc bag, and then cutting off the tip to create a sort of pastry bag. Next, layer another waffle, Jif Creamy Peanut Butter, waffle, Cool Whip, waffle, more Peanut Butter, then your last waffle.

I topped the dish with a big dollop of Cool Whip, and then drenched it in chocolate syrup!

This would be such a fun way to surprise someone on their birthday, or even if they're just having a bad day. Really love how this divine creation turned out!

Here is an Iobatta link where you can find the products I am sharing in this post:

Jif Spread -https://ibotta.com/app/retailer/any/offer/51534

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of The J.M. Smucker Company. The opinions and text are mine alone. #peanutbutterhappy #ad

These Jif Bars inspired me to show you a quick and easy lunch idea, that you can prepare in just a few minutes. A jar salad is a great way to jump start your mid day hunger. I also love the idea of bringing a fruit like cherries or grapes in a jar, so they won't get squished or make a mess. And, a classic PBJ (featuring Jif PB of course), and my favorite raspberry jelly. And, I love packing the Jif Bars as my dessert, because they're portable and taste seriously SO good!

These Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars were the bomb! There are other flavors as well, like Crunchy Peanut Butter, and Creamy Peanut Butter.

I found the Jif Bars right above the Peanut Butter at Walmart, and their prices are some of the best I've found for these items.

photo bromello signature.png

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of The J.M. Smucker Company. The opinions and text are all mine.

Bluegrass + The Farmer's Market

I have written about the new Carbondale Community Farmer's Market before, but this week, I was so inspired by the live music that Hey Honey played! I created this fun video to showcase how vibrant this market is, so check it out here, or on my YouTube channel! 

Visit the Carbondale Community Farmer's Market every Wednesday from 3-6 pm, next to the Town Square Market, at the 200 block of Washington Street in Carbondale, IL. You will have access to seasonal produce, meat, eggs, bread, hand crafted sodas, sandwiches, baked goods, and more. You can even pick up some dinner at the market from Longbranch Cafe (I had the most amazing Sloppy Joes this week), and you can bring something home to snack on, or use for your meals throughout the rest of the week. I always like visiting each and every booth to see what's in season! 

Hope you can stop by the market soon!